Proposed Amendment to The Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006

2. Reason for Consultation

The 2006 Regulations require the competent authorities under the Regulations (the Scottish Government and some airport operators) to produce, on a five yearly cycle, strategic noise maps, which covers agglomerations, major airports, roads and rail, and sets out the candidate noise management and quiet areas, and related Noise Action Plans for agglomerations (larger urban areas), airports and transport (major roads and railways). To date there have been four rounds of noise mapping and action planning. The process to compile the noise maps and the associated action plans currently takes in excess of three years, which affects our ability, within the five year cycle, to fully validate the modelled Noise Management Areas and then to programme and implement appropriate mitigation.

The Scottish Government recognises that environmental noise can be distressing and have an adverse effect on the population’s health and quality of life and as such, it is important to ensure noise mapping data is utilised in the most effective way and to ensure the action subsequently taken has a material impact. The noise maps allow for the presentation of complex information on sounds levels and noise exposure in a clear way on a map, and the associated noise action planning process aims to manage and reduce environmental noise where necessary and preserve environmental noise quality where it is good. Both help identify potential areas subjected to the greatest noise exposure.